Latest news with #IndigenousLeadership
CTV News
31-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Espanola spiritual centre now Indigenous-led after 40 years
Northern Ontario Watch The Anishinabe Spiritual Centre in Espanola, a decades-old hub for Indigenous and Catholic communities, is now under Indigenous leadership after the Jesuits of Canada transferred governance to a new Indigenous-led board, marking a historic step toward self-governance and spiritual reclamation. Amanda Hicks reports.
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Bolivia's electoral court bans ex-leader Morales and suspends a key a candidate, drawing backlash
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia's top electoral court on Tuesday disqualified iconic former President Evo Morales from running for president and suspended the other main leftist contender from taking part in the August elections. The decision targeted the two strongest leftist challengers to President Luis Arce's governing socialist party: Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president who governed the country from 2006 until his ouster in 2019, and Andrónico Rodríguez, the young Senate president. Condemning the moves as a blow to the Andean nation's fragile democracy, Morales and Rodríguez accused Arce's government of using the country's court system against them. 'We have been persecuted,' Morales, who still commands fervent support in his tropical highland stronghold, told a local radio show. On social media, he voiced alarm over 'the grave threat facing democracy today.' 'It is time to unite to confront the country's true enemies: The economic crisis and the abuse of power,' he wrote. Morales has previously vowed to 'convulse' Bolivia with protests if he is barred from the race, heightening a sense of crisis in the run-up to the deeply polarized vote. Rodríguez — a fresh-faced 36-year-old candidate who generated excitement among voters disillusioned with Morales' fifth presidential bid and outraged with Arce's handling of Bolivia's worst economic crisis in 40 years — called for protests against what he called 'a political decision' to suspend his candidacy. 'No ruling or judicial decision driven by political interests can overrule the sovereign will of the people,' he wrote on X. The Supreme Electoral Court gave narrow, technical reasons for the decisions as the window closed for candidates to register their political parties. A power struggle between Morales and his former ally and finance minister, President Arce, has fractured their dominant Movement Toward Socialism party, or MAS, forcing Morales to break off and create his own political party. Arce, whose popularity has plunged as inflation surges and fuel shortages paralyze the country, dropped out of the race last week and nominated his senior minister, lawyer Eduardo del Castillo, as the MAS party candidate. A stern-faced lawyer and loyalist of Arce who oversaw police crackdowns on anti-government protests over the last year, Del Castillo has struggled to summon the kind of support enjoyed by Morales and Rodríguez. In the opposition, infighting among centrist and right-wing parties has left the anti-MAS movement without a clear frontrunner to seize on what could otherwise be its first real shot at victory in almost two decades of socialist rule. According to the list published Tuesday by the Supreme Electoral Court, the successfully registered opposition candidates include Samuel Doria Medina, 66, a former cement tycoon notorious for his multiple unsuccessful presidential bids. There's also Jorge 'Tuto' Quiroga, who promoted market-friendly reforms as president from 2001-2002 after serving as vice president to the late military dictator, Hugo Banzer. Morales' disqualification, though controversial, had been expected. His recently formed political faction, 'Evo Pueblo,' lacks official party status, the electoral court said, while an allied party that planned to host his candidacy failed to meet other legal requirements. Even as Morales continued to insist on the legitimacy of his candidacy, a divisive ruling by the Constitutional Court that bans citizens from running for more than two presidential terms also complicates his path back to the presidency. Some analysts see that ruling — made by Arce-allied judges that interfered in judicial elections to extend their own terms — as emblematic of how the judiciary in Bolivia has been undermined by political wrangling. 'Arce benefitted from the rapid deterioration of the already weak justice system, failed to enact desperately needed reforms and manipulated the courts to his advantage,' said Kathryn Ledebur, director of the Andean Information Network, a Bolivian research group. 'This lack of due process and rule of law make the upcoming elections a free-for-all with an unpredictable, unsustainable outcome.' More surprising was the court's decision to suspend Rodríguez's candidacy pending a hearing on the legality of his political alliance. A first court session is scheduled for Wednesday. The new constraints on the leftist candidates also drew criticism from officials within the Supreme Electoral Court itself. 'I alert the country and the international community that the democratic system is being put at risk by legal actions that seek to affect the normal development of the elections,' wrote Francisco Vargas, a member of the electoral body. ___ DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
New Indigenous Services minister says she's been handed the ‘toughest task'
Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty is shown in her office in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — As the first Indigenous person ever to lead the federal department responsible for delivering services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis, Mandy Gull-Masty knows she has a daunting task ahead. But the newly-appointed Indigenous services minister also knows what it's like to sit at both sides of the table — as a cabinet minister now and, until recently, as the grand chief of the political body representing 20,000 Cree people in northern Quebec. 'I know the importance of — what the value is — when people come here to ask,' the rookie MP told The Canadian Press Thursday from behind a desk still free of paperwork in her new downtown Ottawa office. 'And I think that's really important, especially for a lot of the big files that are in challenging places right now.' Gull-Masty inherits a series of outstanding files from outgoing minister Patty Hajdu, who had served in the role since 2021. They include reforming the First Nations child welfare system and ensuring communities have access to clean drinking water and working infrastructure. While Hajdu was known for having a good working relationship with Indigenous communities, some Indigenous leaders — frustrated with the slow pace of change in the Crown-Indigenous relationship — accused her of doing too little to build consensus on those files. 'I personally, as an Indigenous person, felt that I was handed probably one of the toughest tasks because all eyes are on the first Indigenous person to do the role,' Gull-Masty said. 'The expectation is going to be very high.' When asked how she'll handle saying 'no' to Indigenous leaders she worked with so recently, Gull-Masty replied with a question of her own. 'What makes you think I haven't already said no in my relationships?' she said. 'I mean, that's part of it. 'A relationship is an exchange, and sometimes in that exchange there are things that move forward and there are things that aren't … I feel I've kind of cut my teeth as grand chief. I spent a lot of (time) also being a client of this department. So I feel I'm able to understand where are those barriers, where are those challenges that I can seek to lift.' While Gull-Masty's appointment to the ministry made history, she wasn't the first Indigenous person to be offered the job. Former federal justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, a member of the We Wai Kai Nation, was offered the Indigenous services ministry by then-prime minister Justin Trudeau but turned it down because she would have had to administer programs under the Indian Act — legislation she has opposed throughout her career. Indigenous leaders at the time said Trudeau's proposal to move her to Indigenous services was inappropriate, given the outsized control the federal government has over Indigenous Peoples and communities. Six years later, Indigenous policy experts say they're optimistic about Gull-Masty's appointment, even as they work through what it means to have an Indigenous woman leading the department. Hayden King, the executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, said that while Gull-Masty already has one of the most difficult jobs in the federal government, her identity as a Cree woman takes it to 'the next level.' 'The sheer volume of pressing issues that have to be addressed by (Indigenous Services Canada) is going to be overwhelming, and now that responsibility is going to fall on an Indigenous person — a Cree woman. And in some ways, that is sort of the zenith of reconciliation,' King said. 'Because now cabinet (and) the prime minister is going to be able to say, 'Well this is the person that's responsible for our inaction. This is the person that's responsible for our failure. Look, it's another Indigenous person …' It becomes a bit of a pawn, or even an alibi, for the federal government.' Veldon Coburn, an academic with McGill University's Indigenous Relations Initiative, worked alongside Gull-Masty while she served as grand chief for the Grand Council of the Crees. He praised the work she did to help improve the lives of the people and communities she represented. But 'the machinery of government moves at a glacial pace,' Coburn said, adding he wonders how community leaders will react when challenges arise for Gull-Masty. 'We could say some harsh things to whoever occupies that position, but now on the receiving end is one of our own,' he said. 'And it happens to be a very strong Indigenous woman who can't shout back, because normally we would be sitting on the same floor with Mandy … I cringe at the prospect that an Indigenous person has to say no to other Indigenous people, and what backlash that might drop. 'It's a fraught relationship. It's never been one that has been very amicable.' Gull-Masty said that, having grown up as a Cree-speaking 'rez kid,' she understands some of the frustrations and realities of living in an Indigenous community. And while most of her cabinet colleagues don't share that lived experience, she said she needs them 'to want to work with me, to be creative. 'I'm very open. I like to explore opportunities, I like to push boundaries,' she said. Gull-Masty said she has formed a 'trifecta' with new Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand to collaborate and bring issues forward to Prime Minister Mark Carney. 'I need to feel their support, not only from the government side, but from the side of the people that I'm going to offer services to,' she said. 'And for me to do a good job, I need to be covered in their blessings, their relations, to be guided by their elders, by understanding what their youth want. 'Because their priority — my priority — is to build their next generations in the services that I offer.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
CTV News
14-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Indigenous academic leaders gather in Regina
WATCH: The Hotel Saskatchewan hosted a special summit, which saw over 60 members of the Indigenous University Senior Leaders Association gather.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Closing The Financial Access Gap: Empowering Native Women, Transforming Economies
In Native communities across the United States, we have always known: when you invest in women, you invest in whole nations. Women are the backbone of our communities, the culture-bearers, the caretakers, the changemakers. Yet, in an economy built on exclusion, Native women — like so many women globally — continue to face steep barriers to financial access and economic freedom. Oweesta team members Monique Behrens, Florence Ludka, Sayre Savage and Drea Domebo manning the booth at the 2024 OFN conference in Los Angeles. CA. Sam Levitan Photography To explore how closing the financial access gap can transform entire communities, we spoke with Native women leaders working at the frontlines of economic empowerment. In their own words, they share their vision for changing narratives, the clients who inspire them, and the women who shaped their leadership journeys. 'For far too long, Native women have been denied access to the financial systems that shape our lives and our futures,' says Chrystel Cornelius, President and CEO of Oweesta Corporation. 'But we are changing that—through Indigenous leadership, culturally grounded finance, and unwavering commitment to self-determination. We are rewriting the narrative of what is possible.' Rewriting the Narrative At Oweesta Corporation, a Native CDFI intermediary predominantly led by Indigenous women, we're not just advocating for change — we're building it from the ground up. Our work centers on expanding access to capital, education, and opportunity so Native people can thrive on their own terms, in their own communities. Across Indian Country, Native women leaders are stepping into their power and transforming economies. One of those leaders is Skya Ducheneaux, Executive Director of Akiptan, an Indigenous-led CDFI that finances Native agriculture. For too long, the public narrative about Native communities has focused solely on struggle. Skya calls for a shift — one that centers Native excellence, innovation, and strength. 'One thing that I hate is focusing on the negatives only. Our communities have SO much to offer beyond the rough edges. We have culture, we have family, we have hope, we have a depth of history, we are resilient, we are powerful, and we are so much more than a dilapidated house or a broken-down car or whatever else is going to get shown in those situations.' The Power of Trust and Relationship This spirit of strength, despite historical and systemic disinvestment, is the heartbeat of Native women's leadership. Skya reflects on the early days of her organization's work, when trust was the foundation of their success: 'All of my producers inspire me, but the ones who have been with us from the first few months of opening our doors have a special place in my heart. They really took a chance on us in the same way we took a chance on them. We were showing up for our community, doing our best, with so much still to learn, but they trusted their business and hard work to us to help them build their dreams and now we get to watch them succeed in all the best ways.' The trust between Native women entrepreneurs and Native-led financial institutions is sacred. It reflects generations of relational accountability — where success isn't measured in dollars alone, but in the well-being of families, food systems, and future generations. Relationship-based lending, mentorship, and culturally rooted support are core to what makes Native CDFIs so successful in reaching and empowering women entrepreneurs. Honoring Culture Through Finance In many Native communities, finance is not just about money — it's about values. At Oweesta, we don't separate economic development from cultural revitalization. Our programs are intentionally designed to reflect Indigenous worldviews, where relationships come first, and wealth is shared. In traditional economies, wealth wasn't accumulated — it was distributed. Prosperity was measured not by what one had, but by what one gave. These values remain alive today and form the backbone of our lending and financial education programs. 'We teach budgeting, yes—but we also teach the importance of kinship. We offer business development services—but we also remind entrepreneurs that success doesn't mean leaving your community behind. We embed language, ceremony, and traditional practices into our training models because when Native people see themselves reflected in financial systems, transformation happens,' Chrystel Cornelius, President & CEO, Oweesta Corporation. The Numbers Tell a Story Too Since our founding, Oweesta has facilitated the deployment of over $1.1 billion in capital to Native communities and provided culturally relevant financial education training to over 39,125 individuals. We partner closely with Native CDFIs on the ground, who directly lend to individuals. Since 2019, at least 1,012 of the clients served were Native women entrepreneurs—many of them taking bold first steps towards launching a business, purchasing a home, or building intergenerational wealth. These numbers represent more than economic impact—they reflect the return of agency, voice, and vision to communities systematically excluded for centuries. Conclusion The leadership of women like Skya is rooted in a deep legacy of matriarchal strength. While she doesn't point to one single moment that shaped her leadership, she says her path was forged by watching and learning from generations of fearless women: 'So many values come to mind. Strong, consistent, fearless and powerful. The women Skya Ducheneaux, Executive Director of Akiptan Oweesta I like to surround myself with are the ones who are solution oriented, steadfast in their mission, full of integrity and unapologetic. They don't always necessarily think about glass ceilings or typical gender roles; they just get out there and do the damn thing because it's the right thing and needed done! That's what I want to be like and if I get to shatter a few glass ceilings while doing, it makes it even sweeter. I want to make the women in my life proud, and I want to be that example for my daughters. Here's to strong women; may we know them; may we be them and may we raise them!' At Oweesta, we witness this strength every day. It lives in the mothers saving to buy a home, the grandmothers raising their grandchildren while starting a business, and the daughters who carry their ancestors' prayers into boardrooms and lending circles. But strength alone isn't enough —we must meet it with infrastructure, education, and access. Globally, nearly one billion women remain unbanked. In Native communities, systemic exclusion from financial institutions has created a chasm that limits opportunity. That's why Indigenous-led solutions are so vital. We aren't here to replicate colonial systems—we're here to restore balance and build anew. Financial equity isn't a handout. It's a return on centuries of stolen land, stolen labor, and stolen wealth. It's reparative, it's necessary, and it's already happening — because Native women are leading the way. Closing the financial access gap for women, particularly in Native communities, is not just a matter of justice — it's an economic imperative. As these leaders show, empowering women means investing in community strength, resilience, and a future where everyone thrives. At Oweesta, we don't just know strong women—we invest in them. And when we do, we invest in the future of our nations.
